Bibby orders Topaz

Bibby Offshore Ltd, the Aberdeen based Subsea Contractor, part of Bibby Line Limited of Liverpool, has placed an order for a second new-build diving support vessel (DSV) to the market, following on from the ?Bibby Sapphire? conversion which delivered in the first quarter 2005. The new vessel, named Bibby Topaz, is under construction in Trondheim, Norway at the Fosen yard and will be available for sub-sea operations from July 2007.

As with the Bibby Sapphire, Bibby Offshore will be the disponent owner of the Bibby Topaz, taking the vessel on long term time charter from Volstad Seismic A/S.

The vessel, which is a Skipsteknisk AS design to Bibby Offshore specification, will be 107 metres long and have a beam of 22m. She will have a twin diving bell, 18 man dive system rated to 300 meters water depth. The vessel will also have a heave compensated 150 tonne crane, a working deck area of 1000 m2 and accommodation for 106 persons.

The vessel will be the first purpose- build Diving Support Vessel available to the North Sea Market since the late 1980?s and will be the most advanced and powerful vessel in her class. The diving and ROV services on the vessel, like the company?s other DSV?s, Bibby Aquamarine and Bibby Sapphire will be provided by Aberdeen based contractor, Integrated Subsea Services (ISS) from their growing and specialist manpower and equipment pool.

The vessel, whilst targeted at the North Sea Market, will be capable of supporting operations worldwide and be an integral part in the company?s strategic plan for growth.

The Bibby Topaz, when operational next year, will have a dual redundancy Dynamic Positioning system, an advanced ROV with comprehensive and dedicated survey facilities on-board and three six man deck decompression chambers, together with diver and chamber gas reclaim. Topaz will also be fitted with a helideck capable of taking 12.8 tons or Sikorsky N92 or equivalent.